Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-10-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the Standard.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 1887.
For several days the all-absorbing
theme OF discussion in the political
circles of the Capital has been the
L" bombshell," otherwise the letter of
Civil Service Commissioner Oberly to
the Illinois Democratic Association
declining their invitation to speak be-
fore them, and condemning their So
ciety, which is composed almost ex-
clusively of departmental officials, as a
violation of the civil service law-es-
pecially the pernicions activity"
clause. The Commissioner takes the
position that members of these organ
izations are subject not only to dis
missal from the public service, but
are liable to both fine and inprisOn-
ment, for the offense of forming an as
sociation scmi-social and semi-political
in purpose and character. You can,
perhaps, form some idea of the COM
motion caused by this communication
when / inform you that there are sew
eral such associatiOns-all Democratic,
those of the Republican persuasion
having disbanded themselves upon
the incoming of the present Admins
tration for fear that the members
would be singled out for decapitation.
Mr.. Oberly's dictum has really created
more indignation than alarm and
the Virginia and New York AS
have boldly thrown down
the gauntlet to the Commissioner,
and defantly challenge him to
make good his assertions as to the
scope Of his power and the magnitude
of this offense. have interviewed at
least fifty representative Democrats
upon this question, and they are un-
animous in their emphatic condemna-
ton of Mr.. Oberly's dictatorial assump-
ton of almost autocratic authority,
some of them declaring that it is a
menace of free speech and others
use still severer language.
At last there is prospect of an ad-
justment of the vexatious fisheries
with our neighbors of
the north-one of the Presidents last
acts before leaving being the appoint
ment of Commission, consisting Of
Bayard and Messrs. Angel
Of Michigan and Putnam of Maine, to
consider the matter. The commission
is organized upon a non-partisan, nom
sectional basis, and as its members
are trained diplomats, it is believed
that the result of their deliberations
will demonstrate the fitness of them
all for the high trust.
l know whereof I write, in predict
ing, that upon the meeting OF the
Fiftieth Congress next December,
that the political storm-center will be
in the House of Representatives-the
tariff being the issue, and the Presi-
dency the prize in prospective. And
that the cause of the people and of
the Democracy will win the victory in
this forensic strife, have no doubt.
Even this early the preliminary
movements in the great political
struggle of 1888 are being discussed,
more particularly upon the part of
the Republicans, as their last Nations
Convention decreed that its National
should meet at least six
before the meeting of the
next convention. As the committee
will have to convene early next winter
there is a movement to have it called
together in this city during the ses-
sion of Congress. St. Louis, Chicago
and Cincinnati are candidates for the
next Presidential Conventions of both
the great parties, but many favor New
York, on account of its pivotal posi-
ton in the contest.
The Governments policy of tenn
porarily initiating the currency of the
by the purchase of bonds is
still progressing satisfactorily, thus
vindicating fully the wisdom OF the
financial measure to OBJ
viate the dangers and evils of the
Treasury surplus.
The United States Supreme Court
will convene at noon next Tuesday,
the number of cases ON the docket
being 1,119, which is an increase of
81 as compared with last year. 1t is
thought a decision in the telephone
cases will not be rendered until in
November. During the first two
weeks of the term the only case of i'm
portance to be heard is the noted and
litigation of Myra Clarke
Gaines against the city of New Orleans.
DEN.